Daydreams and Reality...: August 2008

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

My New Church Calling is...

Two weeks ago on Sunday between Sunday School and Relief Society I was cornered by my 1st and 2nd Counselors, Bro. Sharp and Bro. Lewis.

Our conversation went something like this:

Bro. Sharp: "So are you musically talented?"

Amanda: "If you are asking if I play the piano, the answer is no."

Bro. Lewis: "No."

Amanda: "If you're asking if I can sing, the answer is yes, I'm already in the choir."

Bro. Sharp: "No, Can you lead the Music?"

I answered, "Yes..."

Bro. Lewis: "Have you ever been in Primary?"

Amanda: "The more appropriate question should be have I ever really been a ward that has primary. And that answer is no."

Bro. Sharp: "Well, someone in the primary noticed you."

Bro. Lewis: "Are you diabetic? Do you want some chocolate?"

Which makes me wonder. Was it the Primary President? I kicked her son out of my Sunday School class 4 weeks ago! I don't know who else it would be...

Fast forward to Saturday evening around 3-3:30. My phone rang. It was Bishop Bushman.

This conversation when something like this:

Bishop: "Hello Sis. Ottley. How are you?"

Amanda: "Good Bishop. How are you?"

Bishop: "Good. So are you available to come see me tonight?"

Amanda: "Well, Bishop, No I'm in San Antonio."

Bishop: "Will you be back tomorrow?"

Amanda "Not until the evening."

Bishop: "So, do you think that it is ok to extend a calling over the phone?"

Amanda: "Well, Bishop, that's for you to say not me."

Bishop: "Well, We would like to release you from your current calling, and call you to be the primary chorister. What do you think about that?"

Amanda: "Really, I had no idea. Sure, I guess that would be fine."

Bishop: "Well, do you mind if we release and call you tomorrow?"

Amanda: "Even if I won't be there? Everyone will think that the calling has made me inactive!"

Bishop: "No, I will let them know that you are in San Antonio at a Single Adult Activity."

Amanda: "Well, If my apartment gets broken into I will know it was because you announced that I wasn't home at church!"

So, I guess I have been called. I haven't heard anything from anyone to say differently. Guess it is time to get cracking on the Primary Presentation! It sounds like they haven't done much, just my luck!

An Ode to My Cars: Safe Journeys with many more to come!

So, As some of you know I sold my '98 VW Jetta to Spencer in June of '08 when I moved to Colorado. From June until January '08 I had the pleasure of driving my MOM'S '04 Jeep Wrangler. My Dad loves the Jeep and love to go "Mudding", "Off-Roading", "4-wheeling" (whatever you like to call it). And my Mom loves my Dad and has allowed him to trick out her Jeep! The Jeep is maroon with a black hard top for the winter and a bikini fly for the summers. My Dad had given the Jeep a 4 inch lift and of course has added the equally large tires. It is a nice ride! The only problem... with the lift the bottom of the jeep came up to my hip!! So, I had to jump in and out each time I went anywhere. I got a ton of looks from those around me when they saw a short woman getting into this lifted Jeep! The only draw back, getting in and out in a DRESS!! Especially if I was wearing any kind of heel. But I LOVED driving the Jeep. It was tons of fun to drive around with the wind blowing through my hair. It is a really good thing that I have short hair!

In January, when I was getting ready to move to Texas, I had to buy my own car. When I was in Midland for my job interview, I looked around to see what cars people had and the dealerships that where around. I was trying to make an educated decision on what kind of car I should buy. As some of you know, I have dreamed of driving a Subaru Outback Wagon since 2001 when I had one as a rental car in Seattle for Alison and Dan's wedding. But there are not Subaru's here. But there where a lot of Honda's, Chevy's, Ford's, Kia's, etc. My Mom really thought that I should have a small SUV so that I would sit up higher.

So, At the beginning of January my Dad and I started looking. The first weekend we decided to go to Peak Kia and look at the Sportage. I really liked the idea of the 100,000 mile/10 year warranty. When we got there the Go Nissan was next door and we decided to stop there first. We looked around and I test drove a 2005 Nissan Xterra. It was nice but I wasn't ready to make a decision after only test driving one car.

We went next door to Peak Kia. There were some nice new and used cars there. We started looking at the cars and I thought the Sportage was really cute! (Which is the MOST important thing when buying a car!) So, I test drove a couple of Sportages and really like them. They were nice and comfortable. Because they were having the end of year clearance they had a really good deal on the '07's. I wanted the '07 Sportage V6 with the larger engine. They didn't have one at Peak, but there was one at Phil Long in Colorado Springs. It was a deal I couldn't pass up. So, on the very first day I looked at cars I actually purchased a brand new vehicle! I had to wait until Monday to pick up my new car, but it was worth the wait!

I really love my car! It is so cute and I am loving having it. It does awesome on road trips. We have been on a few together: there was the drive to Tx, Dallas in April, Amarillo in May, the Grand Canyon and San Antonio in July, and to Lubbock a couple of times to go to the temple. With all the traveling that I have done in "The Kia", yesterday I hit 9000 miles!

So, Happy 9000 miles to me and "The Kia"! Here's to the years to come and many more miles and trips together!

Check out my ride!